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Harmonics in electrical power systems: Effects of new technologies

Conference Paper · October 2014

DOI: 10.1109/IAS.2014.6978493

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 Harmonics in Electrical Power Systems:
Effects of New Technologies
Peter E. Sutherland, Ph.D., PE, Fellow, IEEE
GE Energy
1 River Road
Schenectady, NY 12345
Peter.Sutherland@ieee.org

Abstract— The purpose of this paper is to bring engineers up

to date and give them new tools for solving harmonic problems.
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technologies previously used
only in high power applications, such as Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) Drives, Active Front Ends, and 18-pulse
rectifiers have moved to lower voltage and power levels. They
are now widely used in industrial and commercial power
systems. The techniques used in conventional harmonic analysis
for the 6-pulse SCR drive no longer apply in many cases. New
harmonic limitation devices, such as broadband and active
filters are replacing the conventional notch filter.
Index Terms-- Harmonics, Power system harmonics, Variable
Frequency Drive, Pulse Width Modulation Drive, Active Front
End, 18-pulse rectifiers.
I. INTRODUCTION
The majority of the harmonics of concern in electrical
distribution systems are caused by distortion of the normally
sinusoidal voltage or current wave due to the switching of
power electronic devices. For many years, the primary such
source was the three-phase bridge rectifier with an inductive
load. Harmonic Analysis Studies were focused on this device
and its characteristic harmonics. Mitigation techniques were
primarily the 5th harmonic notch filter. As Pulse Width
Modulated (PWM) motor drives became prevalent the typical
harmonic spectra have changed significantly, and in some
cases become much greater in magnitude. Concurrent with
the new PWM drives, new harmonic mitigation technology
has been developed, such as Bandpass Filters and Active
Filters. New drive topologies with reduced harmonics have
been developed, such as Active Front Ends and 18 pulse
rectifiers with autotransformers. As this transition has
occurred, attempts to solve new harmonic problems with old
techniques have been tried and failed, resulting in sometimes
difficult and expensive remediation. Harmonic analysis
software used with older types of VFDs has been found not
suitable for use with newer VFDs, and different approaches
must be used. The purpose of this paper is to explain these
developments and provide case histories of how harmonics
can be successfully reduced.
II. FUNDAMENTALS OF HARMONICS
Harmonics in alternating current (ac) electrical power
systems are voltages and currents at frequencies other than
the base, or fundamental frequency of the sinusoidal voltage
and current waves.
Distorted voltage and current waves will give rise to
voltage and current harmonics. In an electrical power system
which is designed for normal functioning at a single
fundamental frequency with sinusoidal voltage and currents,
the system characteristics may be significantly different for
voltages and currents at non-fundamental frequencies than at
the fundamental. In particular, series and parallel
combinations of inductive and capacitive elements may
create resonant frequencies which coincide with, or are close
to, frequencies of harmonics generated by power electronic
equipment.
When a resonant circuit is excited by a harmonic, the
result is a significant multiplication of the exciting quantity.
Resonances in power systems can cause overvoltages
resulting in insulation failure and short circuits. Resonances
can also increase currents, typically resulting in capacitor
failure or the opening of capacitor protection devices, such as
fuses. Traditionally, harmonic remediation has consisted of
replacing capacitor banks with tuned filters which change the
frequency response characteristics of the system such that
voltage and current magnification are eliminated or greatly
reduced.
III. HARMONICS STANDARDS
Harmonic analysis studies are conducted in accordance
with the recommendations of IEEE Std 519-1992, IEEE
Recommended Practices and Requirements for Harmonic
Control in Electrical Power Systems [1]. This standard
provides recommended limits for both current and voltage
distortion. A draft revised standard P519/D6a. Draft
Recommended Practice and Requirements for Harmonic
Control in Electric Power Systems [2] has been issued in
September 2013, but is not yet approved. The major
difference is that the new standard includes only the tables,
while the explanatory and background material will be
published separately.

1
 Current distortion limits, Table 1, are considered the
responsibility of the energy user, or customer of the electric
utility system. The Total Demand Distortion (TDD) is used
as a measure of Current Distortion:
∑
(1)
where
IL is the rms magnitude of the maximum demand load
current, based on a 15 or 30 minute demand interval
Ih is the rms magnitude of the hth harmonic current
The TDD is different from the total harmonic distortion
(ITHD) which is:
∑ rectifier as the typical harmonic load [3]. The derivation of
(2)
Voltage distortion limits, Table 2 for the existing standard
and Table 3 for the new draft standard, are considered the
responsibility of the energy provider or electric utility system.
The Voltage Total Harmonic Distortion (VTHD) is used as a
measure of Voltage Distortion:
∑
(3)
where
V1 is the rms magnitude of the fundamental voltage
Vh is the rms magnitude of the hth harmonic voltage
The junction between these two systems is called the
Point of Common Coupling or PCC. The applicable current
and voltage distortion limits are applied at the PCC. Within
an industrial plant, the PCC is considered to be the point of
interconnection between the nonlinear load and the other
loads. This last requirement has been dropped by in the draft
of the new standard, considerably simplifying the application
of the standard.
Table 1 Current Distortion Limits for Odd Harmonics, %IL, 0.12  kV 
69 [1]
11h<1 17h<2 23h<3
Isc/IL  <11  7  3  5  35h  TDD 
<20  4.0  2.0  1.5  0.6  0.3  5.0 
20 < 50  7.0  3.5  2.5  1.0  0.5  8.0  25% and a Displacement Power Factor, defined as the phase
50 < 
100  10.0  4.5  4.0  1.5  0.7  12.0 
100 <  frequency,  80%. The typical harmonic magnitudes, Table
1000  12.0  5.5  5.0  2.0  1.0  15.0  4, differ slightly from 1/h because of commutation (transfer
> 1000  15.0  7.0  6.0  2.5  1.4  20.0 
Table 2 Std. 519-1992 Voltage Distortion Limits, in percent of nominal
fundamental frequency voltage [1]
Voltage  Individual  THD  
(kV)  Harmonic (%)  (%) 
 69  3.0  5.0 
69 < V  161   1.5  2.5 
> 161  1.0  1.5 
Table 3 Draft D6a Standard 519 Voltage Distortion Limits, in percent of
nominal fundamental frequency voltage [2]
Voltage Individual  THD  
(kV)  Harmonic (%)  (%) 
 1.0   5.0 8.0 
1.0 <V  69  3.0 5.0 
69 < V  161   1.5 2.5 
> 161 1.0 1.5 
IV. TRADITIONAL HARMONICS ANALYSIS
A. Six Pulse SCR Rectifier
Many references still consider the standard six-pulse
the waveforms and calculation of current harmonic
magnitudes is a standard exercise. This may lead to
application errors by severely underestimating or
overestimating harmonic current magnitudes and power
factor. Newer systems have actually existed for a long time.
The older systems are still in use. Yet the new systems are
often poorly understood.
The traditional six-pulse rectifier or three-phase Graetz
bridge rectifier, [4] [5], Figure 1, has been the mainstay of
power conversion for over a century. The first were built
with mercury-arc rectifiers, and, beginning in the 1960s, by
silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridges. SCRs are used for
power control. Typical ac input and dc output voltages are
shown in Figure 2. When there is an inductive load, such as a
DC motor or the DC link inductor of a current source inverter
(CSI), the DC current is smoothed, and the ripple is greatly
reduced. The AC line current from a six-pulse rectifier with
inductive load is essentially a square wave. The individual
harmonic currents produced by a square wave are
approximately 1/h magnitude, where h is the harmonic order.
The firing pulse triggers each SCR, six pulses per cycle. The
harmonics generated are:
1 (4)
where n=1, 2, 3 ….
With p=6, h=5, 7, 11, 13 …. This results in a current THD 
angle between voltage and current at the fundamental
of current from an SCR turning off to one turning on) and
other effects. Figure 3 shows the sum of harmonics according
to 1/h and typical values.
2
Figure 1 Six Pulse Rectifier Schematic

Figure 3 AC Line Current of Six Pulse Rectifier

B. Fifth harmonic notch filter

The fifth harmonic notch filter has been used in the vast
majority of harmonic mitigation schemes. Placed on the
system bus, it effectively reduces harmonics for most 6-pulse
drives, as well as providing power factor compensation.
Tuned for h=4.7, it is relatively immune to variations in
component values. The equivalent circuit in Figure 4 shows
the reactances of the capacitor and inductor and the internal
resistance of the inductor. As a series circuit, the total
Figure 2 Six Pulse Rectifier DC Output Voltage Waveform.
impedance of the filter is:
Table 4 Magnitudes of typical line current harmonics of six pulse
rectifier Z R j X X (5)
Harmonic  1/h  Typical 
order  [1]  where
1  1.000  1.000  RL is the internal resistance of the inductor ()
5  0.200  0.192 
XL is the reactance of the inductor ()
7  0.143  0.132 
11  0.091  0.073  XC is the reactance of the capacitor ()
13  0.077  0.057  This characteristic is plotted in Figure 5.
17  0.059  0.035 
19  0.053  0.027 
23  0.043  0.020 
25  0.040  0.016 
29  0.034  0.014 
31  0.032  0.012 
35  0.029  0.011 
36  0.028  0.010 
41  0.024  0.009 
43  0.023  0.008  Figure 4 Notch filter equivalent circuit.
47  0.021  0.008 
49  0.020  0.007 

3
Figure 5 Impedance of fifth harmonic notch filter versus harmonic Figure 7 Resonance of PFC with system inductance
order.

Power factor correction (PFC) capacitors are often

applied to improve the typically low PF of induction motor
loads. The capacitors will have a resonant frequency with the
inductance of the power system. If an adjustable speed drive
(ASD) with a six-pulse rectifier is added to that system, the
harmonics produced may excite the resonant frequency of the
system, resulting in unacceptable overcurrents and/or
overvoltages. The single line diagram is shown in Figure 6
(a), and the frequency scan in Figure 7. Without the
capacitor, the system impedance is resistive and inductive,
resulting in the sloped frequency response shown. The
presence of a capacitor causes the resonant peak. In this
example, the resonance is at the sixth harmonic, with
significant amplification of the fifth. When the harmonic
filter is substituted for the capacitor, Figure 6(b), the Figure 8 Effect of harmonic filter on resonance point.
resonance point is moved from the sixth harmonic to the
eighth, Figure 7, where there are no harmonics injected by the
ASD. The harmonic impedance is significantly lowered for
the fifth harmonic.

(a) (b)
Figure 6 Power factor correction capacitor (a) and harmonic filter (b)
with SCR drive.

Figure 9 Water treatment plant single line diagram. Line reactor

impedance is 3%.

4

C. Case study: water treatment plant.
A power system study was performed for a small water
treatment plant. The relevant portion of the single line
diagrams is shown in Figure 9. The study was to evaluate the
harmonics produced by two 480 V, 300 HP VFDs. The
drawing specified that the line impedance of the VFDs should
be at least 3%, with external line reactors provided if
necessary. The harmonic study work scope included the
variable frequency drives of pumps P-1 and P-2. These are
the only harmonic producing devices in the system. The
results of this study provided in this report are based on the
scenario of P-1 online and P-2 offline and the 800A main
breaker of MDP-1 being the point of common coupling.
A harmonic spectrum report could not be provided by the
drive manufacturer for the 800 HP drives, so typical
harmonic spectrum values for 6-pulse rectifiers, Table 4,
were used for this study.
It was determined that a notch filter installed at bus MDP-
1 which is tuned to the 4.7th harmonic will reduce all of the
harmonic current values as well as the total harmonic current
distortion to within IEEE 519 standards. Recommended filter
specifications were developed, resulting in the frequency
plots shown in Figure 7.
When the harmonic filter was installed, it was found that
the power factor went leading. The voltage on 480 Volt Bus
rose by 10%. The harmonic filter had to be disconnected
immediately. The actual drive was 6-Pulse PWM type with
98% power factor, and no additional power factor correction
was required. The study had to be re-done with PWM
Harmonics and no power factor correction. Possible solutions
which were considered were broadband or active filters (to be
discussed later).
V. PWM DRIVE WITH DIODE FRONT END
The pulse width modulated (PWM) drive controls the
motor speed by generating a variable frequency supply
voltage, thus it may be called a Variable Frequency Drive
(VFD) or an Adjustable Speed Drive (ASD). PWM drive
harmonics are discussed in [6] [7] [8] [9] [10], and mitigation
methods in [11]. The configuration of a PWM drive from the
AC line perspective is that of a Voltage Source Inverter
(VSI), as shown in Figure 10. The rectifier is simply a diode
bridge, since all control is performed by the inverter. The
inverter and its load may be modeled as a resistance or DC
current source. The voltage in the DC link is held by the DC
link capacitor, which is a high capacitance, high voltage
capacitor or bank of capacitors. Additional filtering may take
place using an AC line reactor and optional DC link reactor.
The total value of reactance consisting of the source
impedance, AC line and DC link reactors is a significant
factor in the performance of the drive and the production of
AC line current harmonics. The magnitude of the harmonics
depend upon the source impedance and the percent loading,
but with harmonic data based upon these factors, the PWM
VFD can be analyzed using a harmonic analysis program
with the harmonic magnitudes entered at each frequency.
Figure 10 PWM Drive with Diode Front End
Unlike the CSI, the AC line current waveform from a VSI
has two modes, continuous current (CCM) and discontinuous
current (DCM), Figure 11. The waveform has two distinct
peaks, which are produced when the AC line voltage exceeds
the DC link voltage [12]. When the diodes cease to conduct
between the peaks, the current is discontinuous, when they
stay conducting the current is continuous. The harmonic
currents produced by these two waveforms can be
significantly different.
(a) (b)
Figure 11 Line current waveforms for PWM Drive with Diode Front
End (a) discontinuous mode (b) continuous mode.
A number of the references [8] [9] [10] derive analytical
equations for the line side current, and in some cases for the
individual harmonics, these equations are unwieldy and do
not lend themselves an evaluation of the factors which cause
variation in the harmonic magnitudes. The time domain
methods used in [6] and [7] can be used to readily determine
the effects of changes in system and load parameters on the
harmonic spectrum. In this case, a Fourier transform is used
to calculate the harmonic magnitudes based on the simulated
waveform.
Referring to Figure 12, the magnitudes of the 5th and 11th
harmonics are plotted vs. the normalized source reactance xv
[6], which is the source reactance divided by the fundamental
frequency power. The plot can be read at power levels other
than 100% by dividing xv by the per unit fundamental power.
Similar charts in the reference cover other harmonics. The
second parameter, 0, is the resonant frequency of the
inductance with the DC link capacitor. In the discontinuous
current mode, the 5th harmonic can have a magnitude as high
as 90% of the fundamental, and the 11th harmonic
approximately 40%. These values go down to less than 25%
and approximately 4% at high values of xv. This compares
with maximums of 20% and 9% for the CSI drive. The
5
figure shows that by increasing the line reactance, the
magnitude of the harmonics is decreased, sometimes
significantly. In practice, this can be controlled by the
addition of AC line and DC link reactors. Decreasing the
resonant frequency will decrease harmonics in most cases,
except for areas like the 11th harmonic at high reactance. The
resonant frequency will decrease by increasing reactance,
which already decreases harmonics, or by increasing the DC
link capacitance, which is a fixed design parameter.
The harmonic magnitudes also depend upon the motor, or
load, power, Figure 13 [6]. The curves are based upon a fixed
0. At powers above rated, the 5th harmonic can exceed the
fundamental in magnitude. Tables of harmonic magnitudes
for VSI inverters are usually given vs. power output at a
given source impedance. The boundary between the DCM
and CCM is a function of both xv and 0, Figure 14 [6], and is
indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 12. The high
magnitudes of the PWM drive harmonics and their variability
due to load is one reason that mitigation methods used for
CSI drives are not only ineffective but counterproductive.
Discontinuous
Current Mode
0
Continuous
Current Mode
Figure 12 Fifth and eleventh harmonic magnitudes vs. AC line reactance
xv and natural frequency 0.  = 0, = 2, = 3, = 4,  = 5. [6]
The power factor in a non-sinusoidal system is actually
composed of two different power factors, the displacement
power factor and the distortion power factor [13]. The
displacement power factor, cos , is the fundamental power
1
factor, the cosine of the angle between voltage and current.
The total power factor, , is the ratio between real and
apparent power:
(6)
where P is the real power in kW and S is the apparent power
in kVA. The portion of the total power factor which is due to
harmonics is the distortion power factor. The displacement
power factor is fairly constant at above 90% for most values
of xv, Figure 15 [6]. This is very different from the poor
power factor ( 80%) of the CSI drives. The total power
factor is very low in the DCM, increasing with xv, and
exceeding 90% in the CCM. It is this high power factor of the
PWM drives which prevents the use of highly capacitive
harmonic filters, such as the notch filter, for harmonic
mitigation.
CCM
DCM
Figure 13 Harmonics vs. motor power, = 5, = 7, 0=2.3 [6]
Figure 14 Waveforms: (a) Discontinuous current mode xv = 0.3 and 1.2,
continuous current mode xv = 3 and 10, (b) boundary between modes. [6]
6
 VI. PWM DRIVE WITH ACTIVE FRONT END
In order to reduce the high level of harmonics produced
with the VSI and a diode front end, the Active Front End
(AFE) has been developed [14]. The rectifier consists of an
IGBT bridge operated in PWM mode, Figure 16. The line
current harmonics generated are centered on the inverter and
rectifier switching frequencies, which are generally above 1
kHz. The AFE also can control the fundamental power factor
to be lagging, leading or unity. AFE rectifiers must use AC
line reactors in order to shape the input current waveform to
be sinusoidal. The high frequency switching produces
voltages which capacitively couple to ground, producing
distorted voltage waves, Figure 17. The current distortion is
typically less than 3% and the voltage distortion less than 6%,
enabling AFE drives to meet IEEE Std. 519-1992 [1] without
harmonic filters. This type of VFD can be analyzed using a
harmonic analysis program with the harmonic magnitudes
entered at each frequency.
Figure 15 Power factor vs. ac line reactance, cos1 = fundamental,  =
total. [6]
Figure 16 PWM Drive with Active Front End - Schematic
Figure 17 PWM Drive with Active Front End - Waveforms
VII. 18-PULSE DRIVE FOR HARMONIC REDUCTION
A. Introduction to 18-pulse drives
Higher order rectifiers have p in equation (1), p being a
multiple of six for three-phase systems. Thus, the first two
harmonics of a 12-pulse drive will be 11 and 13, and for an
18-pulse drive 17 and 19, and 23 and 25 for a 24-pulse drive.
Harmonic currents will have 1/h magnitudes as with the 6-
pulse rectifier. In the past, multi-pulse rectifiers have been
used for high power applications such as motors over 1000
Hp and rectifiers for electrochemical plants. Due to new
technology, such as the 9-phase autotransformer and
improved power electronics, they have migrated to low
power, low voltage applications where low harmonics are
required. Higher pulse rectifiers are highly susceptible to
voltage unbalance, typically requiring significantly less than
1% unbalance in order to provide the expected low harmonic
levels.
The harmonic analysis based on these assumptions is
conducted using the 18-pulse drive topology found in nearly
all textbooks. Three transformers providing phase shifts of -
20, 0 and +20 connect to the DC bus through three 3-phase
bridges connected in series, Figure 18. The resulting current
waveform is nearly sinusoidal, Figure 19, and the harmonic
spectrum is minimal, as shown in Figure 20.
Figure 18 18-Pulse Drive with 3 transformers [11]
7
 voltage unbalance was found to be nearly one percent. The
measured line-to-neutral voltages were:
VA = 258.6, VB = 256.5 and VC = 257.9 Volts
The voltage unbalance may be calculated as:
% 100% 0.8% (7)

Figure 19 Current waveform of ideal 18-pulse drive.

Figure 20 Ideal 18-pulse rectifier current harmonics.

B. Case study: two 440 Volt, 700 HP 18-pulse drives

An example of a pair of 440 Volt, 700 HP induction

motor drives, shown in Figure 21 will be considered here. Figure 21 Two 700HP 440V Cooling Water Pumps in a Power Plant.
The customer specification for the drives had the following These are 18-pulse drives with 9-phase transformers.
requirements:
 The VFDs should comply with IEEE 519
 The VTHD is <3% with utility source
 The TDD is <5% at the PCC
 VFD is to be 18 or higher pulse
 Harmonic filters will not be used
 The PCC is defined as the input to the VFD transformer
The initial analysis conducted as described above. A
harmonic analysis computer program was used to model the
drives injecting the theoretical harmonic currents into the
system. The results showed minimal harmonics, which were
within the limits of IEEE-519.
When harmonic measurements were made at the site, the
current waveform was found to be highly distorted, as shown
in Figure 22. The resulting harmonic spectrum, Figure 23,
showed harmonic current levels which significantly exceeded Figure 22 Measured 18-pulse VFD current waveform
the IEEE 519 limits. The TDD was equal to 36.7%. The most
significant of the current harmonics, as well as the TDD,
were greater than the 5% contractual specification. The

8

Figure 23 Measured 18-pulse VFD current spectrum
Figure 24 Photo of typical 9-phase autotransformer for 18-pulse drive
The drive was not constructed with three phase-shifting
transformers, such as was shown in Figure 18, but with a 9-
phase autotransformer. A photograph of a typical unit is in
Figure 24, and a typical winding configuration in Figure 25.
This configuration is called the “windmill topology” [15].
Other delta-type topologies are also in widespread use. These
units have been designed to reduce the size and weight of 18-
pulse drives, and come in a great variety of configurations
[15]. The system should be analyzed with a simulation
program such as MATLAB or EMTP, rather than a
conventional harmonic analysis program. The ITHD is
designed to be <5%, however source voltage unbalance will
increase this. It was reported in [15] that an instance of 0.6%
voltage unbalance resulted in ITHD = 5.9%, compared with
5% with balanced input voltage. ITHD can be much higher
for small amounts of unbalance during lightly loaded
operation as seen in Figure 30.
Modeling the system in a conventional harmonic program
would give none of the detail of the actual harmonic currents,
which are assumed as an input, and have no possibility of
including three-phase effects such as unbalance.
Constructing an EMTP model with twenty degree phase
shifts in two-winding transformers or 9-phase
autotransformers is possible with multiple transformer
models pieced together. This model was used to compute the
waveform and spectrum in Figure 19 and Figure 20.
Figure 25 Schematic of windmill type 9-phase autotransformer for 18-
pulse drive [15]
Using the simulation, it was possible to determine that
inserting AC line reactors would decrease the current
distortion. The line reactors have two effects. First, they will
cause an equalization of the input voltage to the transformer
by causing a higher voltage drop on phases with higher
current and a lower voltage drop on phases with lower
current, where the higher current may have been caused by a
higher phase voltage and the lower current by a lower phase
voltage. Secondly, the added inductance will decrease the
effects of commutation.
The solution of installing AC line reactors was hampered
by the fact that they had not been included in the original
design, Figure 21, unlike the system in the first example
shown in Figure 9. This resulted in having to install the line
reactors in another room, mounted high on the wall, and
having long and difficult cable connections with great
expense in installation.
Figure 26 shows a comparison of the measured results
without line reactors and simulated results with line reactors.
Field measurement showed that this was an effective
solution.
9

Without Reactors
With Reactors
Figure 26 Harmonic reduction using line reactors.
The characteristics of the types of VFDs considered here
are summarized in Table 5. Starting with the current source
SCR drive with inductive load as the baseline, it can be seen
that the VSI with diode rectifiers is comparable in the CCM,
but far worse in the DCM. These problems can be avoided
by using the more expensive active rectifier, or the more
complex 18-pulse rectifier. In the next section, harmonic
filter solutions will be discussed.
of IEEE 519 at the point where it connects to the supply bus.
The LCL design shown in Figure 27 and Figure 28 is typical.
A transfer function calculated from the data in [16] is shown
in Figure 29. The designs of LCL filters are typically
proprietary, and harmonics analysis programs may not
include models. They could be modeled in EMTP simulations
but this is not practical for day to day work. In most cases,
harmonics analysis studies are not required for the application
of broadband filters. For practical applications, manufacturers
provide spreadsheets for calculating the performance of these
filters.
The performance of a six-pulse diode based VSI drive
with a broadband filter is better than that of an 18-pulse
rectifier under varying conditions of loading and voltage
imbalance, as plotted in Figure 30 [17].

Table 5 Summary of Drive Characteristics Figure 27 LCL filter schematic

Rectifier  Inverter  AC Line  DC  VTHD  ITHD PF

Current  Link  (%)  (%)  (%) 

SCR  CSI  Square   L  5  25 80

Diode  VSI  DCM  C  37  97 95

Diode  VSI  CCM  C  11  25 98

Active  VSI  Sine   C  <6  <3 100

18‐p   VSI  Sine   C  <5  <3 >90

VIII. HARMONIC FILTERS

Figure 28 Typical LCL filter [17]

A. Broadband Filters

Two problems need to be addressed to reduce the high

harmonics produced by the VSI diode front end. Since there
is a nearly unity power factor, the filter cannot introduce
additional capacitance into the system. The filter must also
be far more effective than the conventional notch filter to
remove harmonics of 90 - 125% of the fundamental current.
These requirements can be met by using an inline filter
which is installed on each drive, instead of on the bus. A
broadband filter is used, which has significant inductive
component such that it does not change the power factor. A
broadband, low-pass filter approach is used to reduce all
harmonics, not just the fifth, reducing the overall THD. Such
a filter will ensure that the drive will meet the requirements
10
Figure 29 LCL filter frequency response
Figure 32 Current injected by active harmonic filter [18]

LCL Filter

Figure 30 LCL filter and 18-pulse drive harmonics vs. load at 1% and
3% voltage unbalance. [17]

B. Active Filters
Figure 33 Corrected current waveform [18]

Active harmonic filters are a power electronic device
which is designed to cancel out the nonsinusoidal elements of
a current waveform, returning it to a sinusoidal shape. This
process is illustrated in Figure 31, Figure 32 and Figure 33.
The active filter is installed on the bus in parallel with the
harmonic producing load, Figure 34, with a current sensor
(CT) to measure the distorted current of Figure 31.
Alternatively, the sensor can measure the corrected current,
Figure 33, and make changes to maintain it as sinusoidal.

Figure 34 Typical installation of active filter [18].

Figure 31 Distorted current produced by PWM drive [18]

11
 The active filter is designed as a PWM inverter, as in
Figure 35, which produces the current waveshape needed to
compensate the distorted current. The bridge will act as an
active rectifier to charge the capacitor, and then as an inverter
to produce the correcting waveform of Figure 32. Active
filters are being produced for low-voltage, low HP
applications, as can be seen in the small device shown in
Figure 36. This effectively reduces something which had
been once a large piece of equipment only feasible for high
voltage, multi-megawatt applications to something which can
be used in even the smallest facility. In most cases, harmonics
analysis studies are not required for the application of active
filters. For practical applications, manufacturers provide
spreadsheets for calculating the performance of these filters.
Figure 35 Low Voltage active filter design [18]
Figure 36 Low Voltage active filter construction [18]
IX. CONCLUSIONS
This paper has described the fundamentals of harmonic
generation in electrical power systems, and the responses
needed as PWM drives become the dominant technology. A
variety of remediation techniques and preventative measures
such as AC Line Reactors, DC Link Reactors, Active Filters,
Active Front Ends, LCL filters and 18-pulse drives were
considered, along with some case studies. With the wide
variety of devices available, it is possible to make nearly all
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drives and rectifiers fully compliant with IEEE 519 and
operate at unity power factor without large capacitive filters.
X. REFERENCES
[1] IEEE Std 519-1992. IEEE Recommended Practices and Requirements
for Harmonic Control in Electrical Power Systems, New York: IEEE,
1992.
[2] P519/D6a. Draft Recommended Practice and Requirements for
Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems. New York: IEEE, 2013.
[3] St. Pierre, C. R. Harmonic Misconceptions, Schenectady, NY: Electric
Power Consultants, undated.
[4] Stevenson, A.C. Power Converter Handbook: Theory Design
Application, GE Publication PGEI-10355A, Peterborough, ON:
General Electric Canada, Inc. 1976
[5] Stevenson, A.C. Power Converter Handbook: Theory Design
Application, 5th Edition, IB-1132, Cleveland, OH: Darrah Electric
Company, 2009
[6] Grötzbach, M. and Redmann, R., “Line Current Harmonics of VSI-Fed
Adjustable-Speed Drives”, IEEE Transactions on Industry
Applications, Vol. 36, No. 2, Mar/Apr 2000. pp.683-690.
[7] Xu, W.; Dommel, H.W.; Hughes, M.B.; Chang, G.W.K. and Tan, L.,
“Modelling of Adjustable Speed Drives for Power System Harmonic
Analysis,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 14, No. 2, April
1999, pp. 595-601
[8] Chang, G.W. and Chen, S-K, “An Analytical Approach for
Characterizing Harmonic and Interharmonic Currents Generated by
VSI-Fed Adjustable Speed Drives,” IEEE Transactions on Power
Delivery, Vol. 20, No. 4, October 2005, pp.2585-2593
[9] Carpinelli, G.; Iacovone, F.; Russo, A.; Varilone, P. and Verde, P.,
“Analytical Modeling for Harmonic Analysis of Line Current of VSI-
Fed Drives,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 19, No. 3,
July 2004, pp.1212-1224
[10] Dell'Aquila, A.; Lassandro, A. and Zanchetta, P., “Modeling of Line
Side Harmonic Currents Produced by Variable Speed Induction Motor
Drives,” IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, Vol. 13, No. 3,
September 1998, pp. 263-269
[11] A. H. Hoevenaars, Michael Fahrney, Michael James, and Michael
McGraw, “Design Considerations When Applying Various LV ASD
Topologies to Meet Harmonic Compliance,” IEEE Transactions on
Industry Applications, Vol. 47, No. 4, Jul/Aug 2011. pp1578-1585
[12] Hoadley, F.L., “Curb the Disturbance,” IEEE Industry Applications
Magazine, Sept /Oct 2008, pp.25-33
[13] IEEE Std. 1459-2010, IEEE Standard Definitions for the Measurement
of Electric Power Quantities Under Sinusoidal, Nonsinusoidal,
Balanced, or Unbalanced Conditions, New York: IEEE, 2010.
[14] Morán, L.; Espinoza, J.; Ortíz, M.; Rodríguez, J. and Dixon, J.,
“Practical Problems Associated With The Operation of ASDS Based on
Active Front End Converters in Power Distribution Systems,” 2004
IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting, pp. 2568-2572.
[15] Lee, K.; Paice, D.A. and Armes, J.E., “The Windmill Topology:
Evaluation of adjustable speed drive systems,” IEEE Industry
Applications Magazine, Mar /Apr 2009, pp.43-53.
[16] Reznik, A.; Simões, M.G.; Al-Durra, A. and Muyeen, S. M., “LCL
Filter Design and Performance Analysis for Grid Interconnected
Systems,” Accepted 2013 by IEEE Transactions on Industry
Applications
[17] Matrix Harmonic Filter Series B, GE Publication DET-374A, Fort
Edward, NY: General Electric Co., 2003.
[18] GEMActive Active Filter System, GE Publication DET-376, Fort
Edward, NY: General Electric Co., 2003.
 XI. BIOGRAPHY

Peter E. Sutherland (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in

Electrical Engineering from the University of Maine, Orono, and the Ph.D.
degree in Electric Power Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
Troy, NY.
In 1987, he joined General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY, and
held a variety of positions, becoming a Senior Engineer in the GE Power
Systems Energy Consulting Department. In 2001, he joined SuperPower,
Inc., Schenectady, N.Y., where he worked on applications of
superconductivity to electric power systems. Dr. Sutherland then joined
EPRI PEAC Corporation’s (now EPRI Solutions, Inc.), Schenectady, NY
office as a Consulting Engineer. He is currently a Lead Consultant with GE
Energy Services in Schenectady NY. Author of numerous technical papers,
he is active in the IEEE Industry Applications Society, and in the IEEE
Schenectady Section. Dr. Sutherland is a member of CIGRE and the IET
(formerly IEE). He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania,
Maine, New Jersey and New York and is a Chartered Engineer in the UK.

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